V. I. Lenin

Source: ru:PSS/v45;es:MT
Translated: machine translation (DeepSeek) from the Russian; AI-translated.

LETTER TO G. V. CHICHERIN
14. III. 1922.

Comrade Chicherin! I have read your letter of March 10. It seems to me that you have set out the pacifist programme excellently in that letter. 25

The whole art is to state both that programme and our merchant proposals clearly and loudly *before* the break-up (if “they” lead to a rapid break-up).

You and our delegation will have that art.

In my opinion, you have already about 13 points (I am sending you my marks on your letter), which are excellent.

We shall intrigue everybody by saying: “We have the broadest and most complete programme!” If they do not allow it to be made public, we shall print it with a protest.

Everywhere a “small” reservation: we Communists have our own communist programme (the Third International), but we nevertheless consider it our duty as merchants to support (even if there is only a 1/10,000 chance) the pacifists in the other, i.e., the bourgeois camp (including in it the Second and Two-and-a-Half Internationals 26).

It will be both venomous and “kindly” and will help to disintegrate the enemy.

With such tactics we shall win even if Genoa fails. We shall not agree to a deal that is disadvantageous to us.

With communist greetings, Yours, Lenin
14/III.

P. S. Comrade Chicherin! Why should we not be venomous (and “kindly”) in addition:

LETTER TO G. V. CHICHERIN
We propose (§ 14) the annulment of all war debts and (§ 15) a revision (on the basis of our 13 §§) of the Versailles and all war treaties, 27 but not on the basis of the majority imposing its will on the minority, but on the basis of agreement, for we, appearing here as merchants, can advance no other principle here except the merchant principle? We do not want to impose our will on the United States; we are merchants; we want to persuade them!! A poll of all states and an attempt to persuade those that disagree. Both kindly and unacceptable to the bourgeoisie. We shall put them to shame and cover them with spittle “kindly”.

Variant: the subordination of the minority of countries (by population) to the majority could be proposed separately within each of the two camps: the bourgeois and the Soviet (which recognises private property and does not recognise it).

Put forward both the draft and the variant.

*Les rieurs seront avec nous!* *

×) ** addition: exemption for small holders, insofar as it can be proved exactly that they are not fictitious but really small, working holders.

* — The laughers will be on our side! *Ed.*
** — There is no corresponding sign in the text of the letter. *Ed.*

Written on March 14, 1922
First published in full in 1959

in Lenin Miscellany XXXVI

Printed from the manuscripts